PM Modi To Hold Video Conference With All CMs On Monday To Discuss Lockdown Exit Strategy

Sources report on Sunday that PM Narendra Modi is yet again set to hold a video conference with all state Chief Ministers at 3 PM on Monday as deadline nears

As India battles Coronavirus (COVID-19) under the extended staggered lockdown, sources report on Sunday that PM Narendra Modi is yet again set to hold a video conference with all state Chief Ministers at 3 PM on Monday. Sources add that the agenda of the meeting is to discuss an exit strategy for the nation as the deadline for the lockdown nears. Sources add that Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman, Home Minister Amit Shah and Health Minister Dr. Harsh Vardhan are set to be in attendance.

Previous video conference with CMs

This would be the fifth conference the Prime Minister will hold on COVID-19 with all CMs. Previous meetings had all been to discuss the nation's strategy to battle COVID-19 and had resulted in nation-wide lockdowns - the last one with considerable relaxations. While all CMs had attended the first one, Kerala CM Pinarayi Vijayan has sent a representative for the past two meetings. Most CMs had aired their greivances and have supported the Centre's move to extend lockdown.

India's lockdown extended

On May 1, the Ministry of Home Affairs issued a notification extending the nationwide lockdown by 2 weeks from May 4. The notification states the considerable relaxations in districts falling in green and orange zones allowed by MHA, will continue to remain in place. The Union Health Ministry has divided districts across the nation as red (classified based on total active cases, doubling rate, the extent of testing and surveillance) - 130 districts, orange (those neither in green or red zones) - 284 districts and green zones (Zero cases for past 21 days) - 319 districts. Restrictions too have been lifted accordingly. Currently, India has 62939 cases with 2109 deaths.